Joint operation of the Tax Agency and the National Police

• During the search carried out in coordination by both bodies, in addition to arresting two people, the agents have seized a ton of tobacco.
• The bulk of the investigation was carried out mainly in the vicinity of the Cordoba town of Almodóvar del Río and the Seville town of Écija.

December 5, 2022.- Customs Surveillance officials of the Tax Agency in Córdoba, in a joint operation with agents of the National Police, have dismantled a clandestine factory in Almodóvar del Río (Córdoba) dedicated to the smuggling and illegal marketing of tobacco through courier companies. During the search carried out in coordination by both institutions, in addition to arresting two people, the agents seized a tonne of tobacco.

Chopped, packaged and distributed nationwide

The Almodóvar operation began jointly, when they exchanged information that pointed to a possible illegal tobacco factory. The bulk of the investigation took place mainly in the vicinity of the Cordoba town of Almodóvar del Río and the Seville town of Écija.

The information collected and analyzed so far, together with the various investigations carried out by both bodies in a coordinated manner, determined that it was a group dedicated to tobacco smuggling in all its phases, from the chopping of the leaves to the illegal distribution of significant quantities of chopped tobacco throughout the national territory, through courier companies.

Initial investigations also allowed the identification of the main suspects, as well as their modus operandi for transporting the goods and their way of operating.

Dismantling of a very active marketing point

Based on these facts and with the corresponding judicial authorization, a joint entry and search was carried out on November 18th at the main warehouse under investigation, located in the San Ildefonso industrial estate, belonging to the town of Almodóvar del Río.

The operation culminated in the dismantling of a very active point of sale of cut tobacco, where the agents arrested the two main suspects, accused of a crime of smuggling.

In addition, 1,000 kilos of chopped tobacco, ready to be distributed, a large amount of machinery to carry out the entire chopping and packaging process, and a large number of large courier bags, used to send the merchandise to different provinces nationwide, were seized. The detainees, along with the merchandise and effects, were placed at the disposal of the competent Judicial Authority.